A significant portion of the community links the decline to the retirement of star player Levi from GAM Esports, arguing the loss of a primary content engine and casual fan engagement.

English broadcast production faces criticism for trimming on-air talent, with smaller two-person casts replacing larger analyst desks, which many see as a stripped-down presentation.

Total hours watched dropped 38%, and average concurrent viewers fell from about 81,000 to 50,700, signaling notable audience erosion after the rebranding.

Some fans float match-fixing rumors as a factor in the viewership drop, though it remains unclear if these reflect real issues or bettor frustration.

A combination of talent departures, production fatigue, shallow competitive depth, and single-team dominance is cited as driving the 2026 slide, with calls for Riot Games and organizers to invest in fresh storytelling, revamped English broadcasts, and new personalities.

There are broader concerns for regional and global LoL esports, including questions about replacing iconic players like Faker in the future.

The League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) saw a sharp viewership drop, with peak viewers falling from 483,000 to 174,000, a 64% decrease.